Clegg defends Cameron in black student Oxford row

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Nick Clegg's intervention threatened to fuel the controversyJames Glossop for The Times

Greg Hurst

Last updated at 10:47AM, April 12 2011

Nick Clegg joined the row today over Oxford’s record in admitting black
students as he defended David Cameron’s attack on the university.

Despite a call from the university to the Prime Minister to make a public
correction for citing incorrect figures, Mr Clegg said it was “absolutely
right” to complain about the small number of black students at Oxford. A
wider point was at stake, he said.

“One of the objectives behind our controversial reforms in the funding of
universities is we’re saying to universities, ‘Look, if you want to charge
graduates more money for having the benefit of going